Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

John Harmon

Male 1617 - 1661  (44 years)


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  • Name John Harmon 
    Born 1617  , , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 7/07 Mar 1660/1  Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I1978  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Elizabeth,   b. From 1609 to 1617, , , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 May 1699, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 90 years) 
    Married Abt 1640  of Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. John Harmon,   b. Abt 1641, of Plymouth, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Feb 1712, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 71 years)
     2. Samuel Harmon,   b. 1643, of Plymouth, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Sep 1677, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 34 years)
     3. Sarah Harmon,   b. 24/24 Jan 1644/5, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Oct 1740, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years)
     4. Joseph Harmon,   b. 4/04 Jan 1646/7, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Oct 1729, Southfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
     5. Elizabeth Harmon,   b. 15 Apr 1649, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jul 1652, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 3 years)
     6. Mary Harmon,   b. 12 Nov 1651, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 29 Nov 1671, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age < 20 years)
     7. Nathaniel Harmon,   b. 13/13 Mar 1653/4, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 May 1712, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years)
     8. Ebenezer Harmon,   b. 12 Aug 1657, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Apr 1660, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 2 years)
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1193  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. The relationship of this John as son to Francis Harmon is not proven. The following quote is from the notes of John Harmon below: "Among the members of the Harmon family there is no unanimity of feeling as to when John Harmon came to America." Savage (Genealogical Dictionary, p. 357) has the following entry: "In 1635, the Love, Capt. Young, to be transported to New England: Francis Harmon aged 43, John Harmon aged 12 - but no more is known of him." Ferry book continues: "John Harmon of Springfield could not have been his (Francis) son, as when he came to Springfield in 1644, he had (sons) John and Samuel and wife, Elizabeth. Israel Harmon of Springfield, Mass, speaking at a Harmon Reunion, Aurora, Ohio, August 18, 1896, says: "About the year 1640, John Harmon, the first, born in England in 1617, landed in Boston, America, and after a year or two in Roxbury, joined the few under their leader, Pynchon, on the fertile banks of the Connecticut River and was one of the first settlers of Springfield, Mass." It should be noted that William Pynchon was in Springfield as early as 1636."
      From the "Great Migration" series of books, which are very reliable, we have the following summary of what is actually documented of the Francis Harmon family:
      "Francis HARMAN
      Origin: Unknown.
      Migration: 1635 on the Love (on 13 July 1635, "Francis Harman," aged 43, "Jo[hn] Harman," age 12, and "Sara Harman," aged 10, were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the Love [Hotten 109]).
      First Residence: Unknown.
      Birth: About 1592 (aged 43 on 13 July 1635 [Hotten 109]).
      Death: After 13 July 1635.
      Marriage: By about 1623 ___ ___.
      Children:
      i. John HARMAN, b. about 1623 (aged 12 on 13 July 1635 [Hotten 109]); no further record.
      ii. Sarah HARMAN, b. About 1625 (aged 10 on 13 July 1635 [Hotten 109]); no further record.
      Comments: No evidence has been found that this family arrived in New England."

      2. Today's Hampden County of Massachusetts was originally Middlesex County until it was split off in 1662 and named Hampshire County. Hampden County was formed from Hampshire County in 1812.

      3. Per Website: <http://www.gencircles.com/users/cherylbills/1/data/1> accessed 16 Feb 2002:
      John Harmon (Sources Below: 14 3 3 43)
      Birth:1617/1619 in,,,England (1 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}
      Death: 7 Mar 1661 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (1 11 12 13)
      Also known as: John Harman; John Herman
      Text: John Harmon 1st, born in England, 1617, d. Mar 3, 1661 in Springfield, Mass. married Elizabeth ___ (b. in England 1617) in 1640.
      Text: "Among the members of the Harmon family there is no unanimity of feeling as to when John Harmon came to America." Savage (Genealogical Dictionary, p. 357) has the following entry: "In 1635, the Love, Capt. Young, to be transported to New England: Francis Harmon aged 43, John Harmon aged 12 - but no more is known of him." Ferry book continues: "John Harmon of Springfield could not have been his (Francis) son, as when he came to Springfield in 1644, he had (sons) John and Samuel and wife, Elizabeth. Israel Harmon of Springfield, Mass, speaking at a Harmon Reunion, Aurora, Ohio, August 18, 1896, says: "About the year 1640, John Harmon, the first, born in England in 1617, landed in Boston, America, and after a year or two in Roxbury, joined the few under their leader, Pynchon, on the fertile banks of the Connecticut River and was one of the first settlers of Springfield, Mass." It should be noted that William Pynchon was in Springfield as early as 1636." John 008.
      Text: "The original home of the Harmans in England was Norfolk. I had the pleasure of visiting the capital, Norwich, three years ago; and found a number of them still there. Judge H. H. Lurton, whose mother was a Harman, discovered this on one of his visits to England." This is a letter from Governor Judson Harmon of Cincinnati, Ohio to J.L. (James Lewis) Harman of Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is not dated, but Judson served as Governor from 1908 to 1912. In 1912, Judson Harmon was a candidate for President of the United States. I believe that his letter was written at that time. James Lewis Harman was born in 1874 and was President of Bowling Green Business University beginning in 1921." John007.
      Text: This day the youngest child of John Herman called Ebenezer was found dead in the brook in Nathaneell Pritchard's yard; concerning whose death there was a search and inquiry made by a jury of 12 men of this town of Springfield how the said child came to its end... they judge the child to be drowned in the brought through its own weakness without the hand of any other person being any occasion or cause thereof. (Substantially the same entry regarding the death 7 Apr 1660.)
      Burial: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (14, 15).
      Text: With other Harmons he lies buried in the Harmon family lot in Peabody Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts.
      Ancestral File #: 1G47-C8.
      Reference: 18:6/7.?
      LDS Baptism: 21 Aug 1894
      LDS Endowment: 28 Feb 1917 (1617)
      Emigration: Probably 1635 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (1819).
      Text: From "The History of Vermont" John Harmon born in 1617, London, England - sailed from London to Boston, Mass. on the ship Bachelor. He was one of the first settlers in Springfield, Mass. 12 Mar 1998 (20 21)
      Text: August 11, 1635 The Bachelor departed London for New England; (Not all passengers are named; however the few that are are as follows:) Thomas Webb, Master; Gardner, Lyon...36; (wife) Gardner, Mary...34; (Maidservant) Coles, Elizabeth...23; Jope, William...40; (If indeed, John Harmon was among the unnamed passengers on this ship, is it possible that the maidservant could be our Elizabeth? Just something to consider.) 28 Dec 1998 22 (23)
      Text: "The Love received passengers at London between 13th and 23rd July 1635 to be transported to New England. Joseph Young, master. Only eight passengers besides the master were named on the book: Two names, Willm. Cherrall, baker, aet 26 and Ursula Cherrall, aet. 40, were probably copied erroneously for William Charles and his wife, mother, or sister, who arrived at Salem and were at Marblehead in 1648. Four others, Francis Harman, aet. 43, Jo. Harman aet. 1 2, and Sara aet, 10, and William Parker, aet. 18, are not traced. The remaining two passenge rs were Willm. Browne, called fisherman, aet. 26, and Mary Browne, aet. 26, doubtless his wife. Recent investigations demonstrate that this Capt. Jospeh Young, master of the Love, was of Southwold in England, and married there, Margaret, daughter of the Rev. Christopher Young who from 1611 to 1626 was Vicar of Reydon, the parish in which the seaport of Southwold, on the east coast of England was situate. Capt. Joseph Young and Mary had a son, Joseph baptized at Southwold on 23 Jan 1633-4 and a son John baptized there on the 23 Mar 1635; and these four, Capt. Joseph, his wife, Margaret, and sons, Jospeh and John all came from England to Salem. William Browne, the passenger in the Love, was a son of Francis Browne of Weybrid Hall, Suffolk, England. He was not a fisherman, but served an apprenticeship to be a merchant at Southwold, England and had married Mary Young, a sister of Captain Joseph or of his wife, not exactly traced." Another interesting vessel was the Batchelor of London, Thomas Webb, master, which on 11 August 1635, received Lyon Gardiner, aet. 36, Mary his wife, aet. 34, Eliza Colet, their maid servant, aet. 23, and Wm, Jope, aet. 40, who were to pass to New England, having brought certificate of conformity. The vessel, called a Norsey bark, brought over 12 men. The lasting memorial of this passage is our Gardiner's Island and its inhabitants. (14 18 24 25)
      Text: Servants who were both suitable and willing were perennially hard to find. Robert Barrington, Edward Hopkins, and Philip Nye, Puritan associates of John Winthrop, Jr. in London and Essex - dispatched further shipments of servants to Massachusetts in 1635 "for the use of the common stock." Phillip Nye apologized, "We have sent you some servants but not so many as we pur posed." Passengers on the Bachelor of that year included a dozen servants for Winthrop to dispose of as he saw fit. The Bachelor was a tiny bark of twenty-five tons, so the journey must have been miserable. (26 27)
      Text: It was Governor Winthrop's thirty-ton bark, Blessing of Joy, that Pynchon used to transfer goods to the new plantation. The Blessing bore sixteen tons of Pynchon's goods on this trip, along with provisions for Governor Winthrop's son. The rest of the bulky equipment and provisions needed in starting a plantation came upriver as part of other boatloads, one of which the Winthrop's BACHELOR brought as far as Wethersfield. Two shallops, paid for by the first settlers, were at the Springfield site, and must have been small enough to have been carried around such spots as Enfield Falls. (28 29)
      Text: On the Love there were only eight entered by the port official (names them). Interestingly, of these eight, only William Browne and his wife can be identified as having arrived in New England and even that identification is not totally certain. The Pied Cow had an even shorter passenger list that did the Love, with just four persons recorded. Only one of these, Robert Bills, is known to have arrived in New England and he died within months of landing. It would appear that only three of the twelve passengers on these two ships actually made it to New England. Although it is possible the other nine died during the passage, or chose at the last minute not to make the crossing, such a high proportion of "no shows" is not seen on the other vessels. There is not sufficient evidence to be certain but perhaps William Browne and wife and Robert Bills took passage in one of the other ships leaving at that time, and the Pied Cow and Love never did sail for New England. {30 31)
      Text: About 1640 one John Harmon or Harman settled at Springfield, Mass. Some historians maintain that he was the son of Francis, but it seems more probable that he emigrated from England about 1640 with his wife, Elizabeth and two sons, John and Samuel. He had further issue at Sp ringfield of Sarah, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary, Nathaniel, and Ebenezer. (32 33)
      Text: John of Springfield, 1644, probably son of Francis, was a first settler there, and had a house lot on Main Street; where he marries is unknown. He brought a wife, Sarah, and two children, John and Samuel, when he came to Springfield, and had six others born there, of whom were Joseph and Nathaniel. Land Transactions: 1643 Springfield, Massachusetts (34 35).
      Text: The first land alotted to John Harmon in Springfield: "A houselot by Grant of ye Plantation with the addition vizt four acres more or less breadth 8 rod length from the street fence to the Great River 80 rod; bounded North by Henry Burt; south by Nathaniel Pritchard. Town Records V. 3, p. 158-159 (36 37 38 39 40 41 42).
      Census: 1647; 1648 Springfield, Massachusetts (34 12 43 44)
      Text: My ancestry, so far as I have been able to ascertain, were honest, God-fearing men. They were not wealthy, and yet they could not be called poor. The Harmon family, of which there i s a large progeny in America is English, and Capt. Harman (the original form of the name), later Sir John and rear admiral, through his military exploits, served to bring the family into much prominence. He served under the Duke of York. He got into trouble with Parliment once and was shut up in prison. Francis Harmon left England in the Love and came to Boston. The family of three brothers separated, one brother removing to Pennsylvania, another to Maine and the third, John, to Springfield, between 1640 and 1644. It is from John Harmon that Gov. Harmon is descended. When John married is unknown but the Boston records show that he brought a wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, John and Samuel, when he came through the wilderness to Springfield from Roxbury. John and Elizabeth had eight children. It was Nathaniel, with his brother Joseph, who settled Suffield. He was the direct ancestor of Gov. Harmon. John Harmon, the father, was honored with many important town offices. he was constable, town fence viewer, and had care of the highway. The only thing that appears against him in the town records is that he once absented himself from town meeting, for which he was fined sixpence. The ancestral home of the Harmons in Springfield was on the west side of Main Street north of William St. In 1867 the house was removed to East William St. Well content with his allotment of eight rods width of land from the town, John Harmon made good use of his opportunity to provide for his large family with comfortable surroundings. He died in 1867 (Error!) and with other Harmons lies buried in the Harmon family lot in Springfield cemetery. Several of John's sons continued to live in Springfield, but Nathaniel and Joseph took land and were the first settlers of Suffield, Ct which was a part of the old Hampshire county in Massachusetts until 1749. (3 14)
      Spouses & Children
      Elizabeth
      Marriage: ABT 1640
      Children:
      John Harmon
      Samuel Harmon
      Sarah Harmon
      Joseph Harmon
      Elizabeth Harmon
      Mary Harmon
      Nathaniel Harmon
      Ebenezer Harmon
      Notes:
      BIOGRAPHY: The origin of the Harmon family is less certain. The name Harmon, Harman, Herman, Hermain is found in the Hugenot Records as early as 1549, and in the Registers of the Norwich and Canterbury Registers at various times, but the county from which they came is uncertain. In some entries one gains the impression that the family was Dutch while in other places the name appears to be French. A Norwich church entry of 1549 reads as follows: "Southward 1549 Strangers being householders Harman Cornelius Members of the Dutch church." Other entries show the variation of the name. "Harman wool comber Flanders 1560 wife and three Childre n born in England." "Sept 19, 1571, Charles Harman and others were warned not to disturb the Church or they woul d be turned out." "1571. Cornelius Harman, weaver, 30 years of age and Catherine his wife, 44 years of age. Hollanders having a daughter of 11 years and have been three years here. Came for the cause o f religion." From a state paper we find the following: "Domestic Reign of Queen Elizabeth, R eturns of Strangers in the suburbs of London, 18-20 Dec, 1571. Aleysander Harman of Cologne, Church St. Racheim. Anne Harman his wife of Luke. Same Church. Naturalized inhabitant." "Nov 10, 1571. Corn Cornelius Harmon born in Colleyne Cologne servant, came into the kingdom about six years ago. Dutchman." "Sept 1588. Harmans Dierich, cobbler, A householder, dutchman." The above quotations were taken from "The Walloons and their Church at Norwich." The following are taken from the Registers of the Church of the Strangers at Canterbury: "April 22, 1630. Marriages Jacque Du Miny... and Marie Hermain daughter of Andrew Hermain also of Canterbury." "May 4, 1690. Baptism, - Anne daughter of Pierre Ferre witness Jaques Herman." These entries do not show conclusively the country in which the Harmon family originated, but they do indicate that members were in England from the beginning of the Hugenot exodus from the continent. They also seem to show that the Harmon and Ferry families were acquainted in England (although the 1690 date is considerably later than both John Harmon and Charles Fer ry emigrated).
      BIOGRAPHY: John settled first probably at Boston; then later at Roxbury, Massachusetts. Roxb ury was an adjoining settlement near Boston. The principal founder of Roxbury was William Pynchon. It was a religious community. Pynchon was the first signer of the church covenant.
      BIOGRAPHY: About 1636: Pynchon left Roxbury and with a company led by Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Samuel Stone. Thomas Hooker was from the community of New Towne (now Cambridge), Massachusetts to Hartford, Connecticut where he, along with Stone, would become the leader of the settlement there. They went southward. Pynchon's group settled at the junction of the Agawam and Connecticut rivers at what is now the city of Springfield.
      BIOGRAPHY: 1640: It is unknown just when or where John Harmon and Elizabeth were married. The marriage possibly took place at Roxbury, but I have found no record. It is known that they were married and had two children before they arrived in Springfield Elizabeth's maiden name is unknown at this time.
      BIOGRAPHY: The Harmon Name by John F. Harmon, D.D. Louisville, Illinois: "The name Harmon is older than the Christian era. The name throughout history has passed many translations. In Greek it is Armineos. In Latin, it is Arminius. In French it is Armand. In German, it is Herman or Hermann. In Dutch it is Hermans, Hermanson, or Von Herman; In Roman history it is Armin. In English, the name is Harman or Harmon; but the name is the same everywhere with the variations growing out of different translations. The name Herman appears first in the tribal history of ancient Germany nineteen years before the birth of Christ, deep back in the great German forest, a child was born who was destined to be known throughout all history as the German Liberator (or the George Washington of the German empire). In his honor, tho usands of Germans have christened their sons Herman. The first Herman sprang of the tribe of Cherusci, which historians tell us, was of Aryan stock which had come up out of the Asiatic cradle land of the races. The Cherusci tribe inhabited what is now Hanover and Brunswick; another historian says their domain reached "Seale and the Elbe northward to Aller, westward to the Wese, and southward to the Thuringian forest; while another writer locates them in the Harz mountain. Germany, at that time, was one vast mighty forest so deep and dark that the Romans regarded it with a supersition and dread. These wild woods were so plentiful in buffalo, bison, elk, bear, boars, and wolves and other game that the wild tribes lived by hunting. The Greeks declared the Germans the "most long-lived people." They were a wide, strong-chested people, often standing seven feet tall; fair skin, yellow hair, eyes of blue, bold and piercing. Seldom has the human race produced men with more powerful bodies, nor with greater strength and nimbleness of action. Infants, at birth, were dipped in cold water, and this cold bath was kept up through life by both sexes, as a strength renewer. To these denizens of the wildwood, their deep, silent, mysterious forests were sacred. Through the solitude and my sterious whisperings of the forest, they worshiped the unseen. History tells us that Herman, the child of the forest, grew to be a handsome, athletic youth of noble descent and irreproachable life and gifted with eloquence. While yet a youth, Herman went to Rome. some say that he, a Prince of his tribe, was carried hostage to Rome as Daniel was carried to Babylon. Others say he went of his own free will. Be that as it may, we know he went to Rome, lear ned the Latin language, secured Roman citizenship, joined the Roman Army, made himself so efficient in the arts of War and so heroic in battle that he won a Knighthood from the great Agustus Caesar, king of the nations. He won much favor with Augustus, and soon became Commander of the Rear Guards of the Iron Legions under Varus. This was at the height of Rome's power when the Iron Legions had won dominion over all nations. But no honors or favors which Augustus could bestow upon this brilliant young German could lessen his loyalty to his own, then enslaved, people. When he had perfected himself in Roman military tactics and learned th e secrets by which Rome had controlled the world, he returned to his own tribe, and like Gideon of old, he sent secret runners through all the wild forests calling the tribes together, and when they came, hid away in the darkness of the great forests, he marshalled them by night into an Army and trained them in all the military tactics of Rome. He set about laying plans for the deliverance of his people. Quinctilius Varus, the confidential friend of Augustus, was at that time, with a mighty army, trying by "grinding taxes," death penalties for sligh t offences and a "frightful harshness" to crush the spirit of the German people over whom h e was then Governor, 6 A.D. to 9 A.D. Herman laid his plans with the keenest strategy; no trapper could have excelled his strategy and caution. He wisely chose his own battleground - a swamp in the great forest closely surrounded by mountains. Around the edge of this impassable swamp he felled trees liward and so sharpened the limbs as to make a check as to marching, after the fashion of our late barbed wire entanglements. Having completed all his plans, he returned unsuspected to Varus to his post as Commander of the Rear Guard of the Roman Army . He returned with the news that some of the back tribes of the Germans were in rebellion an d urged Varus to go at once and conquer them. Thus in 9 A.D. when Herman was but twenty-eight years old he took Varus with the Three Iron Legions, consisting of 30,000 picked men, out of their fort, and claiming that he knew a short-cut through the mountains, he led them as far as the Teutoberg Forest, near the present Detnold. Then Herman slipped away and joined his own German army. When the Roman Army had reached the place chosen by Herman for the battle, they marched in a long line with luggage and baggage. Suddenly thousands of Germans from th eir hiding places poured in upon them like a rush of mighty floods; the German war-cry was like seven thunders and the air was full of arrows, Spears, stones, and battle axes. The charg ing Germans looked like giants. The heavens joined forces with Herman, a terrific storm seized the forest; trees swayed like charging armies; water fell in torrents; mountain streams leaped at once to over-flowing banks; lightenings lit the gloom and thunder trumpeted on the ch arging giants. The Romans, loaded with baggage and wearied by marching, became panic stricken, but soon rallied and formed in masses but the battle went against them. Herman had purposely persuaded Varus to send out large foraging parties. These were all at once cut down. The battle continued until dark. Then the Romans huddled together and during the night threw up shallow breast works but they were out of food and surrounded by their enemy. Their only hope was in flight, so burning all their baggage, they began their retreat, but were cut off on every side, and becoming bewildered again in the Teutberg Forest, and hemmed in by the Detmold mountains, fearful slaughter followed. The second night the remnant fortified themselves, but on the third day their retreat was cut off and they were annihilated. Few escaped. Varus, seeing his great loss, fell, like Saul in Gilboa, upon his own sword and died, and the other officers did the same. When news of this fearful destruction of the Roman Army reached Rome, the populace was filled with terror. Even the great Augustus Caesar moaned for days, like one bereft of reason, and cried, "Varus, give me back my Legions!" History says that Herman was the only one who ever attacked Rome at the height of her power. But Herman did it and not only won one of the greatest victories of ancient wars, but completely annihilated the Iron Legions, the greatest pride that tome ever marshalled, frightened her Generals to suicide, threw the greatest of Caesars into hysterics and "so great was the universal terror that the Romans refused to serve" in their own armies for defense, until forced under pain of death. Herman cut off the head of Varus and sent it to Marbod, the Chief of the German tribe who had not joined him in battle; he sent it to remind Marbod of his duty; but Marbod did not receive the head with favor, but at once sent it to the Emperor Augustus with a friendly message of sympathy; so Herman met him in a decisive battle and drove Marbod from his tribe and the country. He fled to refuge with the Romans. Rome stirred her world-wide kingdom to gather an army for defense, supposing that Herman would march his army at once on Rome, but history tells us that Herman, after his victory, "offered sacrifices to the gods to whom he consecrated the booty, the slain, and the chief prisoners," and then satisfied himself by destroying all Roman roads and forts as far as the Rhine. (Harmon 153)
      Death: 1661: 4 March. John Harmon prepared his will in the presence of Elizur Holyoke and Jo hn Lumbard. In 1663, John Lombard witnessed sale of land from Widdow Elizabeth Harmon to son -in-law, Charles Ferry. This is a name (John Lombard/Lumbard) we should pay attention to fo r possible relationships.
      Death: 1661: 7 Mar: John Harmon died at Springfield; age 43. "John Harmon of Springfield, deceased, who died the 7th day of March 1660/61."
      Death: He is reportedly buried in the old Peabody Cemetery in the center of Springfield, where in 1848 all remains of the old burying grounds in downtown Springfield were removed to the present Springfield Cemetery which is known as the Peabody Cemetery. There is a plot in the Springfield (Peabody) cemetery is the last plot in Row 1, identified in Cemetery Records a s #1-111. To the right of #1-111 is a plot approximately 20' x 20' containing the following marker: "Within these four monuments are the remains of Unknown Dead removed from the Old Burial Places in 1848." This plot is adjacent to the only Harmon stone remaining - -that of John 3rd (1678-1742) and his family.
      Death: 1661: 13 May Will of John Harmon recorded in Probate Court records. An inventory of his estate was later taken by Henry Burt and Nathaniel Ely.
      Death: Film: 879, 189 Massachusetts Probate Court Hampshire County Title: Probate Records, 1660-1916 Volume 11 1767-1777.
      Death: The will & Testament of John Harman of Springfield deceased who died the 7th Day of March 1660/1661: Know all whom this may concern that John Harman of Springfield being sick and weak in body, but of ready memory and understanding, being requested on the 4th day of March 1660/1661 to settle his worldly affairs, did refuse to dispose of any thing perticularly, but said he wo uld leave all that he had into his wive's hand for he said she is a tender mother, therefore she should have the disposal of all. This was spoke by the said John Harman the day above mentioned being two days before his death: Witnesses whereunto were: Elizur Holyoke and John X Lumbard (His mark) Recorded May 13th 1661.
      LAND: The land first alotted to John Harmon in Springfield is described in the town records to have been:..." a house lot by Grant of ye Plantation with the addition vizt four acres more or less Breadth 8 rod Length from the Street Fence to the Great River 80 rod bounded Nort h by Henry Burt South by Nathaniel Pritchard." (Town Records V.3 pg. 158 & 199 - no date is affixed to this entry.) His home lot was located on the west side of the street between th e present State and Mill Streets. 1644: 16 May "for raysings of 20 pounds in part payment for ye Indian Purchase of ye Plantation" John Harmon was assessed 8 shillings 10 pence. This is the first mention of John Harmon in the records; so he must have been granted land either in 1641 or 1643 with the latter date seeming more logical because of the assessment date. Spring 1644 "It is ordered that those lotts from Roger Prichards downward shall have their 2nd allotments below Aggawan River mouth - every man to have 5 acres apiece to run in length 80 rods their lottsto abutt against ye greate river." 1646: In 'a rate for ye raysinge of 30 pounds for the purchase of the lands of the Plantation 1646.' John Harmon is assessed 9s, 2d on the 33 acres of land. 1645: After ten years or so of communal living, the residents of Springfield voted in 1645 to distribute the land to individual people as farm lots. The ability of the original plantin g grounds to support an increased population had reached its limit, and the sons of many of t he original settlers were reaching maturity and required their own farms. Thus the meadow la nds were given to the residents of the southern end of the original downtown Springfield settlement. 1645-7: 1645-7 For two years after these grants in the "long meadow," the new owners prepared the area for agriculture. Lots were laid out and fences were begun. Despite the ideals of being a close-knit and religious-minded community, fences soon proved necessary to keep pea ce, as wandering swine and cattle damaged neighbor's crops. The meadows were dotted with wil d cranberry bogs, ponds, and swamps and because of the low-lying nature of the land it was su bject to flooding. 1648: Many of the Springfield inhabitants had shown a strong preference for the long meadow and requested permits to surrender the planting ground upon the river-bank and to take lands back upon the next plantation. This request was granted in 1648. Three years after, the l ands were apportioned at Pecowsic and Mill river as follows: Benj. Cooley 1st who hath 3 acres Anthony Dorchester2nd4 acres Widow Bliss3rd3 acres Roger Prichard & John Lumbard 4th1 acres Nath Prichard 5th 4 acres John Harmon 6th2 acres 1649: 12 Feb. John Harman was granted land; the record stating: 'It is ordered ye Geo. Colt on and Thomas Cooper who is ye Towne treasures should with yr best discretion lay out the sev erall parcells of Meadow granted ye last yeare to Henry Burt 4 acres; Tho. Mirick 4 acres, Al ex. Edwards 4 acres, Jno. Harmon 4 acres, In ye Longe meadow over ye Brooke.' Lots were lai d out and fences begun to keep wandering swine and cattle from damaging neighbors crops. Th e first house was built in the meadows in 1649. Most lot owners already had homes in Springf ield and the meadows were subject to flooding. 1651: 22 Jan John Harman was grantee of lot 6, two and one-half acres 'on Pacowick.' (Se e 1648). 1654: 8 Feb. These parsells of meadow commonly called by the name of Wattchnett was grante d these inhabitants as followeth, vis. John Harman 3 acres,' etc. He also received a grant of land "over ye mill river" containing 3 acres. He also received other grants of land.This will was made 4 Mar 1661, three days prior to John's death on 7 Mar 1661. Witnessed by John Lombard and Elizur Holyoak. Recorded 13 May 1661. It also includes an inventory of his estate. Although John Harmon was buried in Springfield, MA; this monument is in the Suffield, CT cemetery where it was erected by Israel Harmon, a descendant, in honor of Joseph and Nathaniel Harmon as the founders of Suffield. There is no monument in Springfied. Although this claims Francis to be John's father, it is only as correct as the submission - which is not at all.
      Footnote sources:
      1. Title: Harmon Genealogy (the) Author: Artemas C. Harmon Publication: Gibson Bros, Inc. Washington DC 1920 Page: pg. 159.
      2. Note: Photocopy Cheryl Bill's file (purple book) My line only photocopied John 019.
      3. Title: Charles Ferry Family in America (The) Author: Ferry, Edward M. Page: pg. 10-12: See also Misc File 002.
      4. Note: It is questionable that the 12 year old John in 1635 in the Ship Love, would have been old enough to be the John who came to Springfield 1644 with a wife and two children. Many records give 1617 as John's birthdate. Love's passenger would have been born in 1623.
      5. Title: Harman-Harmon Genealogy And Biography Author: John William Harman Publication: Parsons, West Virginia 1928 Call Number: 929.273 H227hh.
      6. Note: Photocopy: John 018. Discusses original home of Harmons as Norfolk, England.
      7. Title: International Genealogical Index (Ordinance Information) Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Page: Batch # po13841 Source: Book 942.25/T1 V26T.
      8. Note: Extracted birth/christening records for Ticehurst, Sussex, England give a POSSIBLE, although NOT PROVEN that this is our John, ...date and place of birth as 28 Jan 1617 in Ticehurst, Sussex, England. Father: John Harman; no mother listed. PLEASE DO NOT JUST ASSUME THIS IS OUR JOHN'S BIRTH RECORD!
      9. Title: Ancestry of Lydia Harmon 1755-1836 Wife of Joseph Waterhouse of Standish, Maine Author: Walter Goodwin Davis Publication: Stanhope Press; Boston, MA 1924 Page: john002; pg. 2.
      10. Note: Explores possible ancestors for her John Harmon who was the founder of the Wells-Scarboroug h branch of the family. Gives good info about several John's and helps eliminate Francis as father of our John of Springfield.
      11. Title: Massachusetts Probate Court Records of Hampshire County Probate Records 1660-1916 Vol II Call Number: film 879,189 Page: john001.
      12. Title: Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts: The Pynchon Court Records 1639-1702 Author: Smith, Joseph H. Publication: Massachusetts. Harvard University Press.
      13. Note: Did John also drown? Later in that same entry it states in this book that The will and inventory of the estate of John Harman of Springfield who died March 7, 1660/61 are ommitted. I did find them (see Citation 2), but no reference that could be called substantially the same entry as that for the death of the child Ebenezer.
      14. Title: Dow, Brown and Allied Families Author: Dow, Harriet B. Publication: The American Historical Company, Inc. New York. 1929 Call Number: John013 Page: pg. 155.
      15. Note: Good burial info; but she has 3 John's as one, so use caution with her info on John.
      16. Title: TIB Index Bureau Author: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Temple Records Page: John004: TIB 20,178 Bk C-2; pg. 649.
      17. Note: Although this record gives Francis as the father of John, there is no proof that this is so . Many early researchers assumed this because of someone's faulty assumption. (CAB) We found an earlier baptismal date also on IGI.
      18. Title: Correspondence Page: VJyizit@aol.com; cueball@uts.cc.utexas.edu.
      19. Note: Jan Williamson and Jon Harmon both sent this information. Photocopy John009
      20. Title: Internet Page: http://www.primenet.com~langford/spls/635ne004.htm#Bachelor.
      21. Note: Ships to America - The Bachelor, 1635 Photocopy: John011.
      22. Title: Shipwrights, Fishermen, Passengers from England Page: pg. 26-27.
      23. Note: Information on passengers of The Love, and The Bachelor. Photocopy John012. It is my personal feeling that John Harmon was one of the 12 men aboard the Bachelor. (Later, the ship Bachelor, was used to transport supplies down the Connecticut River to Springfield, MA where John settled.)
      24. Title: Coming Over. Migration and communication between England and New England in the Seventeenth Century Author: Cressy, David Publication: Cambridge University Press Call Number: John 015 Page: pg. 56. 25. Note: For more information on the Bachelor, see Winthrop Papers, vol 3, p. 203-206. CHECK THIS OUT.
      26. Title: William Pynchon, Merchant and Colonizer 1590-1662 Author: McIntyre, Ruth A. Publication: Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. Springfield, MA 1961 Page: pg. 13
      27. Note: More evidence leaning toward the Bachelor.
      28. Title: Great Migration Newsletter Author: Great Migration Study Project Publication: 101 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 Call Number: John 017 Page: Volume 7 no. 4.
      29. Note: Study shows the Ship Love probably never sailed for New England.This is an indepth study of a ll passenger ships and passengers of 1635 and it is well researched and documented.
      30. Title: History and Genealogy of the Will Harmon Family Author: Harmon, Gordon Stewart Call Number: John 020 Page: pg. 10
      31. Note: Suggests that John emigrated from England in 1640 with family. This book explores many early Harmon settlers in New England.
      32. Title: History of Suffield in the Colony and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England 1660-1 749 Author: Sheldon, Hezekiah Spencer Publication: Clark W. Bryan Company Call Number: 974.62/S2 H2 Page: pg. 33.
      33. Note: Names John's wife as Sarah.
      34. Title: Springfield 1636-1886 History of Town and City Author: Green, Mason A. Publication: Springfield, Massachusetts, 1888 Call Number: 974.426/si H2g Page: V. 2 .
      35. Note: first allottment to John 022 Map showing grants John 023; Pynchon fort.
      36. Title: Long Meddowe 1636-1716 (The) Call Number: http://www.longmeadow.org/ourtown/history.htm Page: John 025.
      37. Note: Long Meadow is located at the confluence of the Agawam and Connecticut Rivers. Pynchon chos e it as the ideal place for his fur-trading business and religious community. It was above E nfield Falls and safe from enemy warships. It provided water access to the Berkshires and th e greatly desired beaver. There was enough meadow to support farms and cattle. After a tent ative agreement with the Agawam Indians, to purchase some of the land, Pynchon returned to Bo ston and Roxbury to recruit settlers.
      38. Title: Genealogical and Family History of Western New York Vol 2 Call Number: Film 60446620 Page: John 005 Text: John Harmon settled in Springfield in 1643, and was granted land, February 12, 1649, the record saying: "It is ordered ye Geo. Colton and Thomas Cooper who is ye Towne treasurer should with yr best discretion lay out the severall parcells of Meadow granted ye last yeare, to Henry Burt, 4 acres, Tho. Mirick 4 acres, Alex Edwards 4 acres, Jno. Harman 4 acres in ye Longe meadow over ye Brooke." The first land alotted to John Harmon in Springfield: "A houselot by Grant of ye Plantation with the addition vizt four acres more or less breadth 8 rod length from the street fence to the Great River 80 rod; bounded North by Henry Burt; south by Nathaniel Pritchard. Town Records V. 3 p. 158-159. In 1646, he was charged "a rate of 30 pounds for the purchase of the lands of the Plantation. " He was assessed 9s,2d on thirty-three acres of land. January 22, 1651, John Harmon was grantee of lot 6, two and one-half acres "on Pacowick." February 8, 1654 thease parsells of meadow commonly called by the name of Wattchnett was granted these inhabitants as followeth, vid: John Harman 3 acres, etc. He also received grants of land "over ye mill river" containing 3 acres in 1655.
      39. Title: John & Elizabeth Harmon of Springfield, Massachusetts & Their Associates Author: Bills, Cheryl Harmon (bean) Page: John 022
      40. Note: Compilation of land grants in Springfield
      41. Title: Town Into City: Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Meaning of Community, 1840-1880 Author: Frisch, Michael H. Publication: Harvard University Press Call Number: US/Can 974.426/51 H2f Page: pg. 10; photocopy John 024
      42. Note: Map showing river, marsh, wood lots, etc.
      43. Title: Harmon Family in New England Author: Judson Harmon, Governor of Ohio Publication: This is a newspaper article when he was running for President of the USA Call Number: john003
      44. Note: Keep in mind this text is for political purposes."

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. The book "The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography," v. 13, p. 279, entry for Judson Harmon (b. 1846): "His first American ancestor was Francis Harmon, who emigrated from England to Boston, Mass., in 1636; his son John, was one of the founders of Springfield, Mass., and Suffield, Conn.; his son Nathaniel, married Mary Skinner; their son Samuel, married Deborah Winchell (etc.)"

      BURIAL:
      1. From the Internet 6 Jul 2008 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kathycamp/Inscriptions/Page043.htm: Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut Headstone Inscriptions 1660-1937. This list of inscriptions, town of Suffield, was copied in 1934, under the auspices of the F.E.R.A. and the W.P.A. sponsored by the Connecticut State Library, as compiled under the supervision of Charles R. Hale, State Military Necrologist, assisted by Miss Mary H. Babin, Secretary. Hartford, Connecticut, December 1937. Inscriptions, 125-3 West Suffield Cemetery, buried next to each other:
      Harmon John born England 1617, died Springfield, Massachusetts 1661.
      Harmon Joseph 1st born Springfield, Massachusetts 1646, died Suffield, Connecticut 1729 *First Settlers Suffield.
      Harmon Nathaniel born Springfield Massachusetts 1653, died Suffield, Connecticut 1685 *First Settlers Suffield."
      [Note that there is a conflict with the burial location for John Harmon. The above inscription is for West Suffield Cemetery; however, the quote above from Cheryl Bills indicates Peabody Cemetery in Springfield - I have not yet seen documentation for a burial in Peabody.]

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. Per family group sheet archive record submitted by Rhea Ferre Bailey, 3257 S. 1575 E., SLC, Utah. References: "Family temple record, A6B39,A8B35,A4B38, F.F.H.2"